Bary Continues Stakes Success

* Bary Continues Stakes Success
* Crystal Duke Romps Home in CJC Spring Classic

Bary Continues Stakes Success

Hawke's Bay trainer John Bary is enjoying a very successful spring taking out another feature race, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m) with No Excuse Maggie (NZ), who led a NZB trifecta on Saturday.

The five-year-old daughter of No Excuse Needed, No Excuse Maggie (NZ) (ex Maggie O'Reilly) was given a tough task from barrier 15, but showed that she was up to the task as she worked her way onto the pace with Sam Spratt aboard. The tough mare maintained her strong gallop into the straight where she held off Justanexcuse (No Excuse Needed) who flew home late, to win by a quarter-of-a-length.

Bred by Waikato Stud, No Excuse Maggie is the 12th stakes winner for her sire No Excuse Needed who recorded the quinella in the race. She was also the 14th stakes winner for her damsire O'Reilly, who is also the broodmare sire of Group 1 winners Daffodil and The Pooka.

Bary is having a very successful spring thus far with his stable star Jimmy Choux taking the last two legs of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown, and is the current second favourite for the Cox Plate.

A winner of four of her 13 race day starts, No Excuse Maggie is raced by the Full of Excuses Syndicate and was a bargain purchase by Mr & Mrs HG Jones from Waikato Stud for $2,500 at the 2007 Karaka Weanling Sale. She has now won over $77,000.

Taking second place was Justanexcuse for trainer Lisa Latta, who holds a nomination for the Group 2 7th Coupland's Bakeries Mile, with the Graham Richardson trained Sircross (Cape Cross), a last start winner over the mile, claiming third and providing the race trifecta for Karaka graduates.
Crystal Duke Romps Home in CJC Spring Classic

The Kevin Hughes trained Crystal Duke made the Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (2000m) his own on Saturday after destroying the field by over four lengths at Riccarton.

Ridden by jockey Danielle Johnson at the light weight of 53 kilograms, Crystal Duke (NZ) (Bachelor Duke x Starfire Glow) showed that the rain which hit Riccarton Park was of little concern as he made a four-and-a-quarter-length statement to his rivals heading for the New Zealand Cup (3200m) on 12 November.

His first win at black-type level, the five-year-old came into the race with just one start under his belt at Riccarton where he ran a good fresh up fourth to Zabene (Zabeel) over 1800 metres.

Crystal Duke is the fifth stakes winner by Bachelor Duke - who stands at the Oaks Stud - with Saturday's victory his seventh in 28 starts.

Bred by Bill Borrie, Crystal Duke was a $20,000 purchase by Kevin & Pam Hughes from Richfield Thoroughbred Farm at the 2008 Karaka Select Sale. He has now won over $77,000 in stakes.
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